Fear of Clipless Pedals

[Catrin]

In what way are the Speedplay pedals different? Can it be described easily? Some may remember my "clipless gymnastics" a few months back - though honestly I think it more due to my lack of bike skills than anything.

[colorisnt]

Clipless gymnastics? I am going to use that the next time I impale myself on my bike! haha.

I rode 27 miles tonight and crossed a huge highway in the pedals. Played it safe and DID NOT rush. My speed is so much more consistent. Here I was going up a hill at 17 miles an hour haha! I finally feel like I own the bike. Unclipping is becoming second nature.

[Catrin]

Clipless gymnastics? I am going to use that the next time I impale myself on my bike! haha.

I rode 27 miles tonight and crossed a huge highway in the pedals. Played it safe and DID NOT rush. My speed is so much more consistent. Here I was going up a hill at 17 miles an hour haha! I finally feel like I own the bike. Unclipping is becoming second nature.

There were many, many, many falls over a three day period and as it was right after the Olympics started this winter it seemed a perfect way to refer to it at the time. I just tried it much too early for me (I just learned how to ride a bike in December) - now I am waiting for everything else to become instinctive/part of muscle memory before I try again. I could certainly see the advantage of the pedals though - when I wasn't practicing my falling over skills I do not fall over anymore, but am gun-shy about trying this soon.

It is so great that the pedals are working for you, that just rocks!

I have Speedplay Light Action and they are just so easy to get in and out of. The pedal and the cleat marry up with almost no pressure or effort. Hard to explain!

This is very interesting to me - so they require no force to get in/out? This is something to think about, I have read in other places that Speedplays are considered by some to be easier than SPDs.

[Crankin]

Catrin, I think you should try some Speedplays. I started on spd's and when I switched to Speedplays, I was wishing that I had had them when I first went clipless. No force needed at all.
There are lots of types of Speedplay pedals. A lot of people here use the Frogs, which are mountain bike pedals (like spds), so they can walk in their shoes. I have the regular Speedplay X pedals, as well as the covers for the cleats, so I can walk around without killing myself!
I have spd pedals on my hybrid and mountain bike and my knees really feel it if I ride them more than 10 miles.

[Catrin]

Catrin, I think you should try some Speedplays. I started on spd's and when I switched to Speedplays, I was wishing that I had had them when I first went clipless. No force needed at all.
There are lots of types of Speedplay pedals. A lot of people here use the Frogs, which are mountain bike pedals (like spds), so they can walk in their shoes. I have the regular Speedplay X pedals, as well as the covers for the cleats, so I can walk around without killing myself!
I have spd pedals on my hybrid and mountain bike and my knees really feel it if I ride them more than 10 miles.

Thank you for this information, it does sound worthy of the experiment once my finances recover from the LHT conversion and I get a few more miles under my belt.

I DO see the advantage of being clipped in somehow, and since I refuse to use toe clips I do have to deal with the issue of my feet sometimes sliding around/off of my BMX pedals though it is generally only a problem in the first few hundred feet after starting. I have several rides coming up this month, and a club ride in hilly southern Indiana in mid-July, perhaps after then.

[colorisnt]

Wow. You learned to ride in December and THEN tried the pedals? You are brave! I have been riding since age 4 and have good balance and I was so terrified! I have done so many stupid things on a bike and not fallen that it isn't funny. It's been at least 10 years since I had fallen off, so I was not expecting it. Good for you for getting back on that bike! I probably would have been too terrified to do so!

Ah!

And pedals definitely help with the sliding on hills. My feet used to slip a bit on the ascents without the clips. I don't really have that issue with the LOOK pedals.

[tctrek]

In what way are the Speedplay pedals different? Can it be described easily? Some may remember my "clipless gymnastics" a few months back - though honestly I think it more due to my lack of bike skills than anything.

I have Speedplay Light Action and they are just so easy to get in and out of. The pedal and the cleat marry up with almost no pressure or effort. Hard to explain!